Chapter 11: Learning to Trust

Will's POV:

I frowned, exchanging a worried glance with Gilan. Halt and Raven should have been back by now. Gilan was drumming his fingers in the hilt if his sword, deep in thought. It has been reported that the Red Soldiers were encamped very close. I could stand it now more.

"I'm going to find them," I announced. Gilan shook his head.

"Not alone. I'm going with you." He stated firmly.

"As am I." Horace said from behind me. We walked to the stables, and I went straight to Tug. Abelard was in the stall next to Tug, and I paused. The look in his eyes held a silent, pleading look. Deciding quickly, I grabbed both horses' lead ropes and walked them out of their stalls. On my way to tack the horses up, I saw Horace talking with another knight. I realized that it was Prince Seth, who was in the middle of saddling a battle horse. They were having a lively argument, and it was making Kicker, Horace's horse, uneasy. I shrugged. Their dispute was between them, and I was intent on staying out of it. However, when a raised shout startled Tug, I decided I was going to intervene. I walked over to them.

"What's going on?" I asked, and they both turned to me.

"Horace won't let me come with you!" Seth said, at the same time, Horace said: "Seth wants to come with us!" And both glared daggers at each other.

"Who's to say he can't?" I asked. Horace opened and closed his mouth several times, then assumed a look of defeat. Seth grinned triumphantly, and placed the saddle on his horse with an audible whump. He horse danced several paces sideways, startled by the sudden weight on its back. I noticed Gilan had been paying mild attention to the disagreement and looked a question at me as I passed. I shrugged. Blaze nickered a greeting to Tug and Abelard as Gilan walked closer to me.

"What was that all about?" He asked in a quiet voice.

"Seth wanted to come with us, and Horace didn't want him to," I said, tightening Tug's saddle girth. I left Abelard's loose. I slipped the bridle over Tug's head and clasped a few buckles. Next to me, Gilan swung atop Blaze as if he had done it most of his life. Then again, he probably has, I thought ruefully. I slipped my foot in to the stirrup and swung into the saddle. Gilan and I made our way outside, and waited for Seth and Horace. I laid my bow across my thighs and adjusted my quiver several times. There was a clatter of hooves, and Seth appeared beside me. He had a horse next to him too, I noticed.

"What's that horse for?" I asked, gesturing to the bay.

"That's for Raven. Did you think she'd walk?" He replied. I realized I had sort of forgotten about Raven.

"Well, no. I didn't." I said, just as Horace came out.

"Let's go!" Gilan said, urging his horse in to a gallop. We followed suit, until we reached the forest. We rode straight into it the forest, deep in to the heart. Suddenly, there was a deep throated hum, all to familiar to me. There was a slithering hiss of steel against leather and the clash of sword against sword. I looked at Gilan, who was already dismounting. I grabbed the quiver from the pommel of the saddle and strapped it across my back, and took an arrow from my quiver and laid it on my bowstring.

Several hours earlier . . .

Halt's POV:

I slowly opened one eye, denying the fact that it was morning. The sunlight glinted off of Ravens hair. I rolled over and shook her shoulder.

"Raven! Wake up! We have to get back to Castle Araluen." I whispered. Raven ignored me, but I could tell she was awake.

"Raven! We have GOT to go!" I said, my temper running short. She rolled over and opened one eye.

"I'd rather stay here," she commented. Raven propped herself up against a tree. "Don't suppose you have any coffee, by chance?" I allowed a small grin at this.

"No," I replied, though I wish I did. "You don't have any food, do you?"

"I suppose you'll have to go hungry," she said dryly. I groaned in response. I stood, motioning got her to follow. Shadow stretched and shook out his pelt, causing it to stick up in all directions.

"Shadow, you look like a spike ball," Raven chided.

'And I suppose your hair is in better shape?' Shadow scoffed. Raven raked her fingers through her hair in response. She turned to me.

"I'm not that bad, am I?" She asked, a worried look on her face. I shook my head, hiding a small grin. I turned and began walking to the edge, or what I hoped was the edge, of the forest. Raven fell in step with me. We walked for an hour before she broke the silence.

"This tree looks familiar," she said, a hint of worry in her voice. I looked closer at it.

"So it does," l agreed. She looked at me.

"We're going in circles!" She exclaimed. I nodded. I glanced up at the sun.

"It's that way," I told her. We continued on, but Raven was still on edge. After a while, a sharp gasp escaped her lips. I turned around.

"You ok?" I asked.

"I'm fine," she replied, though I tell her voice was strained.

"Your injury isn't bothering you, is it?" I prompted.

"No!" She replied sharply. She looked up, and I could see her eyes were wide. Suddenly, I felt it too. A sharp pain, for where it came I could not tell. Just outside of my subconscious, a presence lurked.

"It's them. The Red Soldiers." She confirmed my suspicions. At that moment, an arrow, no doubt aimed at me, arched into the air. Raven grabbed my wrist and yanked. I stumbled toward her. I recovered long enough to fire an arrow at the figure in the forest. Behind me, Raven drew her sword and I heard the clang of sword against sword.

Authors note: there you go! New chapter!

Willow Treaty: thanks! I used one of your ideas. It'll appear in the next chapter.

Mac Gustah: Thanks!

Something like me: One has to be a quick typer when one's limited on the time one spends on their iPod. Plus, I love writing this so much!

Next chapter will be out later today or tomorrow.